Royalty rate doesn't change for Apple, music retailers

The Copyright Royalty Board on Thursday froze the rate that digital-music stores, such as iTunes and RealNetworks' Rhapsody, must pay music publishers. The three-member board that sets statutory copyright licenses e-mailed the Digital Media Association (DiMA), the National Music Publishers' Association, Apple, and other download stores with its decision to keep the royalty rate 9.1 cents. The board also set the same rate for CDs and mandated established a 24-cents rate for ringtones. The decision is the first time the Board has established mechanical royalty rates for digital downloads.